H7283 H7283
They rage; describes nations in tumultuous uproar against God's anointed in Psalm 2:1
This verb means 'to rage' or 'to be in tumult,' appearing in Psalm 2:1's opening question: 'Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?' The term conveys noisy, chaotic commotion—nations in uproar, throngs in agitated motion. Cognate languages suggest ideas of vehement noise or disturbance. The psalm depicts worldwide rebellion against God and his anointed king, with nations conspiring to throw off divine sovereignty. Their raging is ultimately futile ('in vain'), but the verb captures the intensity and seriousness of their rebellion. It's not quiet dissent but loud, aggressive opposition to God's rule.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Psalm 2:1 opens with rhetorical shock: 'Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?' The verb רָגְשׁוּ (they rage) describes collective, tumultuous rebellion—not individual dissent but corporate uprising. Spanish 'se amotinaron' (they mutinied/rioted) catches the rebellious, disorderly sense. The Aramaic cognate often translates Hebrew 'tumult' or 'roar.' The question 'Why?' expresses divine incredulity: what could motivate such futile rebellion against the Creator? Yet history repeatedly shows nations raging against God's purposes. The psalm's answer is that God laughs at their pretensions—no human coalition can overthrow divine sovereignty over the earth. 1×
AR["ارْتَجَّتِ"]·ben["হৈচৈ-করেছে"]·DE["tun-Grimm"]·EN["do-rage"]·FR["être-agité"]·heb["רגשו"]·HI["क्रोधित-हुए"]·ID["bergejolak"]·IT["tumultuarono"]·jav["geger"]·KO["소란하는가"]·PT["se-amotinam"]·RU["мятутся"]·ES["se-amotinaron"]·SW["mataifa"]·TR["kızıştılar"]·urd["ہنگامہ-کرتی-ہیں"]
Related Senses
H4325 1. water, waters (582×)H6965b 1. Qal: to rise, arise, get up (432×)H2091 1. gold (the metal) (389×)H0068 1. stone, rock (material/object) (267×)H5178a 1. bronze/copper as metal (131×)H6083 1. dust, dry earth, soil (108×)H8313 1. burn, set fire to (94×)H2734 1. anger was kindled (82×)G5204 1. water (80×)H2822 1. darkness, absence of light (80×)G5457 1. light (illumination) (71×)G0450 1. rise, stand up (physical) (69×)H6965b 2. Qal: to stand firm, endure, be valid (50×)H6999a 2. burn sacrifice on altar (Hifil) (45×)H5553 1. rock, cliff (physical feature) (43×)H6965b 4. Hifil: to establish, confirm (covenant/kingdom/word) (40×)H1197a 1. burn, be on fire (39×)H4306 1. rain, showers (38×)H1653 1. rain, precipitation (34×)G4655 1. darkness (30×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [רָגַשׁ] vb. be in tumult or commotion (Arabic رَجَسَ make a vehement noise; Biblical Aramaic Aramaic רְגַשׁ, ܪܓܰܫ be disturbed, in tumult (𝔗 Ithp. often for הָמָה, as ψ 46:6, שָׁאָה Is 17:12f.; ܪܓܽܘܫܝܳܐ for הָמו̇ן ibid.); but Syriac usually perceive, so NH Hiph., but Hithp. fall stormily upon);— Qal. Pf. 3 pl. ψ 2:1 רָֽגְשׁוּ why do the nations throng tumultuously?